Last week, I had the opportunity to take part in the Leadership and Skills Development Dayas part of my Laidlaw Scholarship journey.
The day was a brilliant mix of reflection, collaboration, and leadership in action. Highlights included:
- Exploring and reflecting on personal leadership themes from our MS Forms submissions
- Designing a marketing strategy for vegan snacks and pitching to a ‘Board of Directors’ while facing uncertainty (being poached by headhunters and a chicken scandal with our influencer - to name a couple)
- Discussing organisational culture, ethical leadership, and presenting back as groups, with some incredible academic performance.
The sessions really pushed me to think critically about how I lead under pressure, adapt to uncertainty, and foster collaboration.
I am very grateful to be part of a community that encourages both self-reflection and practical leadership growth.
I’m also excited to share the results of my summer research project very soon – watch this space!
#LaidlawScholars #LeadershipDevelopment #Reflection #Laidlaw
Hi, I’m Katie McGowan, a Psychology undergraduate at the University of Leeds and a 2025 Laidlaw Scholar.
My academic interests centre around human behaviour, social influence, and cultural psychology. This summer, I’m researching how cultural background and perceived empathy in artificial intelligence influence consumer trust — a project that brings together my fascination with social psychology and cross-cultural dynamics.
Outside of academia, I’m passionate about women’s rights, youth leadership, and community impact. I’ve volunteered with organisations including Let Me Know (LMK) and Jewish Women’s Aid (JWA), helping to raise awareness around healthy relationships and gender-based violence. I’m also a Holocaust Educational Ambassador, committed to promoting dialogue, reflection, and education around collective memory and human rights.
I currently serve as a School Representative for Psychology, advocating for students and working with staff to ensure that student feedback leads to meaningful change. Leadership, empathy, and representation are values that guide everything I do.
Outside of my academic and voluntary work, I love travel and adventure — I hold an Advanced Open Water Scuba Diving certification, and I’m always looking for new ways to explore both above and below the surface.
I'm especially interested in how research and leadership can create real-world change, and I’m always open to connecting with others who share those goals.
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Thanks for sharing your insightful reflections on the Leadership day Katie!